Michael DeMocker / The Times-PicayuneAaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers will provide the New Orleans Saints a stern test.

The Packers may be the least talked about 15-1 team entering a new season in recent history. Their loss at home in a playoff opener to a team that barely made the postseason may be the reason for the lack of publicity. Yet Green Bay enters this season as one of the favorites in the NFC to make it to New Orleans for Super Bowl XLVII. The Packers always will be a contender with MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers. It also doesn't hurt that Rodgers has talented options in the passing game to throw to -- wide receivers Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson and tight end Jermichael Finley. Green Bay's running game is still suspect, with James Starks leading the way. The Packers recently added running back Cedric Benson. Green Bay did drop off defensively last season as the Packers were the league's worst pass defense (299.8 yards per game allowed). Yet safety Charles Woodson is still one of the better defensive playmakers in the NFL and cornerback Tramon Williams remains a solid option in the secondary. Linebacker Clay Matthews may be on plenty of commercials, but his sack total was cut in half with only six in 2011 as opposed to 13 ½ sacks in 2010.

Sept. 9 San Francisco, 3:25 p.m.

Sept. 13 Chicago, 7:20 p.m.

Sept. 24 at Seattle, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 30 New Orleans, 3:25 p.m.

Oct. 7 at Indianapolis, noon

Oct. 14 at Houston, 7:20 p.m.

Oct. 21 at St. Louis, noon

Oct. 28 Jacksonville, noon

Nov. 4 Arizona, noon

Nov. 11 BYE

Nov. 18 at Detroit, noon

Nov. 25 at N.Y. Giants, 7:20 p.m.

Dec. 2 Minnesota, noon

Dec. 9 Detroit, 7:20 p.m.

Dec. 16 at Chicago, noon

Dec. 23 Tennessee, noon

Dec. 30 at Minnesota, noon

The outlook for Chicago

The Bears seemed like they were destined for the next step after falling to the Packers in the NFC championship game in 2010. They took it, backward. Quarterback Jay Cutler only played 10 games in 2011. Running back Matt Forte sat out the final four games with a knee injury. Both are healthy going into this season and Forte will be playing with a new contract. Chicago beefed up the backfield by adding former Raiders tailback Michael Bush as insurance for Forte. But the Bears finally added a legitimate wide receiver for Cutler as the quarterback has been reunited with former Broncos teammate Brandon Marshall. Chicago's defense is aging, as it seems linebackers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs have been playing with the Bears since Dick Butkus left. Yet both had 100-plus tackles last season. Defensive end Julius Peppers can still be one of the more dominant pass rushers when he wants it. Veteran cornerback Charles Tillman anchors the secondary. And you can't forget Devin Hester in the return game, as he scored one off a kick return and twice off punt returns in 2011.

Sept. 9 Indianapolis, noon

Sept. 13 at Green Bay, 7:20 p.m.

Sept. 23 St. Louis, noon

Oct. 1 at Dallas, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 7 at Jacksonville, 3:05 p.m.

Oct. 14 BYE

Oct. 22 Detroit, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 28 Carolina, noon

Nov. 4 at Tennessee, noon

Nov. 11 Houston, 7:20 p.m.

Nov. 19 at San Francisco, 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 25 Minnesota, noon

Dec. 2 Seattle, noon

Dec. 9 at Minnesota, noon

Dec. 16 Green Bay, noon

Dec. 23 at Arizona, 3:25 p.m.

Dec. 30 at Detroit, noon

The outlook for Detroit

The Lions advanced to the playoffs last season for the first time since Barry Sanders left. Detroit owes plenty of thanks to one of the youngest and most explosive passing connections in the NFL -- quarterback Matt Stafford and wide receiver Calvin Johnson shredded opposing defenses at will. Stafford remained healthy for the first time and showed just how good he can be, with 5,038 passing yards and 41 touchdowns. Johnson added to his Megatron moniker with 96 catches for 1,691 yards and 16 TDs. Like the Packers, the running game is suspect with Kevin Smith, Keiland Williams and Mikel Leshoure vying for carries while Jahvid Best probably will start the season on the PUP list. Detroit's defense is susceptible. Defensive end Cliff Avril is coming off a career season with 11 sacks. But it will be interesting to see how once dominant defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh can rebound from his tumultuous 2011 season, and if second-year defensive tackle Nick Fairley can produce after his arrest-filled offseason. The secondary will continue to be an issue, but cornerback Chris Houston had five interceptions in 2011 with two being returned for scores.

Sept. 9 St. Louis, noon

Sept. 16 at San Francisco, 7:20 p.m.

Sept. 23 at Tennessee, noon

Sept. 30 Minnesota, noon

Oct. 7 BYE

Oct. 14 at Philadelphia, noon

Oct. 22 at Chicago, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 28 Seattle, noon

Nov. 4 at Jacksonville, noon

Nov. 11 at Minnesota, noon

Nov. 18 Green Bay, noon

Nov. 22 Houston, 11:30 p.m.

Dec. 2 Indianapolis, noon

Dec. 9 at Green Bay, 7:20 p.m.

Dec. 16 at Arizona, 3:05 p.m.

Dec. 22 Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 30 Chicago, noon

The outlook for Minnesota

Things were already on the downslide last season, and then the bottom fell out for the Vikings when running back Adrian Peterson tore his ACL with Minnesota already far away from the playoffs. Coach Leslie Frazier has been coy about Peterson's return, as he may not be completely healthy yet. That adds more pressure to second-year quarterback Christian Ponder as he attempts to build on an up-and-down rookie campaign. Versatile wide receiver Percy Harvin should be Ponder's primary target, but Minnesota also added wideout Jerome Simpson. Ponder will also hope for better protection as the Vikings selected left tackle Matt Kalil with the No. 3 overall pick. Regardless of the other pieces on defense, end Jared Allen produced a monster season in 2011 leading the NFL with 22 sacks. Linebacker Chad Greenway is also coming off of a 152-tackle season. There are way too many questions on the Vikings at this point to consider them a contender in the NFC North as Minnesota still lacks playmakers on offense with Peterson's health and a suspect pass defense that ranked 26th in the league a year ago.